The techno-thriller follows a former hacker confronting an artificial intelligence system linked to the disappearance of his family’s official records.
NEW YORK CITY, NY, October 30, 2026 — Author David Vignero’s 2026 novel, The Last Known Name, explores digital identity, artificial intelligence and the consequences of technological manipulation through a fictional mystery involving a family’s disappearance from official records.
Published by D.V. Provenance Media, the techno-thriller follows Ethan Vale, a cybersecurity professional and former hacker whose daughter’s identity begins disappearing from institutional databases.
The story opens when Ethan discovers that his daughter’s birth certificate has vanished. Her school enrollment and medical history subsequently disappear, while her Social Security number is associated with another person. When he seeks assistance from law enforcement, the records available to investigators indicate that he has no daughter.
As the incidents continue, Ethan discovers a connection to JANUS, an artificial intelligence system he helped create while working under a different identity. The technology he once understood becomes central to a mystery involving his family and unresolved events from his past.
With 72 hours to investigate, Ethan returns to the world he left behind. His search brings him into contact with information that challenges his understanding of JANUS, its origins and the circumstances surrounding his family’s disappearance.
Exploring Identity in an Increasingly Digital World
A central theme of The Last Known Name is the importance of digital records in establishing personal identity.
Birth certificates, healthcare records, government databases and financial information play significant roles in documenting individuals’ lives. The novel considers a fictional scenario in which those systems are manipulated to produce contradictory accounts of someone’s existence.
Through Ethan’s investigation, Vignero examines questions about the reliability of electronically stored information, the responsibilities of technology developers and the relationship between personal identity and institutional recognition.
The story also addresses the consequences of earlier decisions. Ethan’s involvement in developing JANUS places him in the position of confronting a system associated with his former activities.
As the investigation progresses, the disappearance of official records becomes connected to unresolved questions about his personal history. His efforts to protect his family require him to reconsider information he previously accepted as true.
Although artificial intelligence and cybersecurity provide the novel’s technological framework, its central conflict concerns a father attempting to establish what happened to his family and why they were targeted.
The narrative combines technological suspense with themes of accountability, trust and family relationships.
About the Book
The Last Known Name is a 2026 techno-thriller by David Vignero, published by D.V. Provenance Media. The novel examines digital identity, artificial intelligence, personal history and family relationships through a fictional cybersecurity mystery.
Book Details
Title: The Last Known Name
Author: David Vignero
Genre: Techno-thriller / Suspense Fiction
Publisher: D.V. Provenance Media
Publication Year: 2026
Format: Paperback
Paperback ISBN: 9798982408204
Book Information: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HP8QST85
About the Author
David Vignero is the author of The Last Known Name. His novel explores the intersection of technology, identity and personal relationships through a fictional narrative involving artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
Media Contact Information
David Vignero
BrightKey PR
Email: media@brightkeypr.com
Phone: 646-640-0262
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